immigration building

For Brennah Hammar, life across from the federal immigration building in Portland has become a nightly ordeal. Tear gas creeps into her apartment, forcing her to wear a gas mask — even while sleeping. The once-quiet streets of her South Waterfront neighborhood have transformed into a battlefield, where clashes between masked protesters and federal agents erupt night after night.

“It’s like a war zone,” she says, describing the tension and fear that now dominate her home. Residents here are caught between opposing sides, unsure who to blame. Some point to extreme anti-fascist protesters, while others accuse federal agents of provoking …